Louisiana has the largest expanse of coastal wetlands in the United States, but the state's 3 million acres of wetlands — a critical storm buffer — are lost at the rate about 75 square kilometers each year. Nearly 2,000 square miles of the Louisiana coast has turned to open water since the 1930s.

Refining minerals often produce hazardous waste, with limited secondary uses. The disposal of these materials leads to the loss of usable land and jeopardize nearby fresh water supplies. For instance, one ton of waste is generated during the industrial production of one ton of aluminum.